2nd March, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Last Wednesday, 28 February, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Ali Pate took the podium at the National President Centre, Radio House, Abuja to unveil the agenda as well as achievements of the Tinubu administration in the health sector.
Pate who was the third Minister that will appear on the Ministerial Press Briefing Series, MPBS, inaugurated on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, took advantage of the opportunity to give Nigerians a peep into efforts and ongoing plans of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to turn around the health in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of his administration.
As noted by Pate, President Bola Tinubu’s administration had late last year indicated that the Health and Social well-being of Nigerians would be a key part of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda when he launched Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Compact between the Federal, the 36 States Government and Development Partners.
While unveiling the strategic health renewal plan during the commemoration of the 2023 World Universal Health Coverage Day with the Theme: Health for All, Time for Action at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the President had reiterated the commitment of his admiration to revamping the Health Sector, tackling infrastructure issues and improving health care services at affordable rates working in collaborations with the state governments and the development partners.
The strategic blue print was anchored on saving lives, reducing both physical and financial pain, improve population health outcomes, accountability, maternal and childbirth, governance, affordable and quality health services for all Nigerians through the expansion of the Universal Health Coverage, UHC in Nigeria.
The President said, “good health is core to harnessing Nigeria’s greatest asset, its human capital, is at the heart of our relentless efforts to ensure that all Nigerians are on the path to have access to improved quality health services and without financial hardship,” at the ceremony. As later noted by Pate, the President had backed up his determination with increased allocation to health and social sectors in the 2024 budget.
Speaking at the Ministerial Press Briefing on Saturday, Pate highlighted the steps being taken by the President to actualise his agenda for Nigerians in the health sector since May 2023.
The Minister said the President has anchored his agenda in the sector on enhancing healthcare accessibility, affordability, and quality.
Boosting Primary Healthcare
According to the Minister, in realisation of its importance in ensuring the well-being of our citizens, the Tinubu administration has prioritized the revitalization of primary healthcare facilities across the nation with focus on ensuring they are adequately equipped and staffed to provide essential services to communities.
“Through sustained investment and strategic partnerships, we have expanded access to vital healthcare services, particularly in rural and underserved areas, improving health outcomes and reducing the burden of preventable diseases,” said the Minister. He added that the efforts have resulted an increase in the proportion of women attending Ante-Natal Care in the country.
“Over 550,000 women now attend their first ANC and are armed with the right information and care to improve their pregnancy outcomes and reduce maternal and child mortality. The achievements we have recorded signal progress and improvements.
“To sustain and continue to build on these gains, in the last six months, the Government of Nigeria recruited 2,497 Doctors, Midwives/Nurses, and CHEWs to bridge the gaps due to attrition. An additional 1,400 health facilities now have Skilled Birth Attendants to assist in deliveries at the health facilities. This has increased the number of health facility deliveries to as high as 230,000 deliveries per month,” said Pate.
He also announced that the the Federal Government will be releasing N50 billion as the first tranche of the Basic Healthcare Fund, a significant increase from N25 billion allocated in 2022. This, he said, was with the aim of breathing new life the primary healthcare facilities and ensuring that quality care is accessible to all citizens.
Expanding Healthcare Coverage
In the same vein, he revealed that the Federal Government has made substantial strides in expanding health insurance coverage as part of its bid to ensure that Nigerians are not deterred by financial barriers from seeking medical care.
Pate said to increase the accessibility and affordability of health insurance schemes, the Federal Government has been supporting enrollment initiatives and streamlining administrative processes.
This, he said, have resulted in extension of coverage to millions of Nigerians, safeguarding them against the financial hardships associated with healthcare expenses.
“Since the beginning of this administration, we have enrolled about 750,000 more Nigerians in health insurance. We remain committed to providing access to quality health for all Nigerians through the Vulnerable Group Fund and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF),” he said.
The Minister also noted that through robust vaccination campaigns and outreach programs, the Federal Government has achieved significant strides in sustaining immunization coverage nationwide, safeguarding our communities, particularly our children, from devastating diseases.
“Notably, our swift response to the diphtheria outbreak underscored our commitment to proactive disease control measures, swiftly containing the spread and saving countless lives. Since the inception of diphtheria response, over 5 million children have been immunized with the Penta vaccine and 10 million children with Td vaccines.”
Combating Lassa Fever
On Lassa fever, Pate announced that the Federal Government has embarked on the distribution of essential response commodities to states and treatment centers across the nation especially in affected states. He listed the items to include Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), Ribavirin (injection and tablets), body bags, thermometers, hypochlorite hand sanitizers, and Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials. By ensuring the availability of these critical resources,
“We aim to equip healthcare workers and facilities with the necessary tools to effectively manage and contain outbreaks,” said Pate.
In addition, the Minister said the Federal Ministry of Health has developed a robust distribution plan that will ensures timely and equitable distribution of resources to states and Lassa fever treatment centers based on their specific needs and vulnerability.
“Confirmed cases of Lassa fever are promptly treated at identified treatment centers across the states. These centers are equipped with the necessary medical expertise, facilities, and medications to provide comprehensive care to patients. By centralizing treatment and care, we can effectively manage cases, prevent transmission, and improve patient outcomes.
The Minister added that the Federal Government is also providing steadfast support to states in combating the scourge of Lassa fever through collaborative initiatives, capacity-building programs, and the provision of critical resources, we have strengthened surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment protocols, strengthening our collective response to this persistent threat.
“We remain resolute in our commitment to mitigating the impact of Lassa fever and safeguarding the health and well-being of all Nigerians. Through strategic planning, resource allocation, and collaborative efforts with state governments and healthcare partners, we are confident in our ability to effectively respond to outbreaks and protect our communities,” the Minister revealed.
HPV Vaccine
Pate also announced that the Federal Ministry of Health and partners since the launch of the HPV vaccine in October 2023 across 15 states plus the FCT, have successfully vaccinated more than 4,95million eligible girls aged 9-14 years representing 80% of eligible girls.
He added that the Phase 2 introduction is of the immunisation is scheduled for May 2024 in Anambra, Borno, Cross-river, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kwara, Kogi, Ondo, Rivers, Oyo, Sokoto, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, Yobe, Plateau and Zamfara.
According to him pre-implementation activities to ensure a successful phase 2 have began. He described the introduction of the HPV vaccine as a crucial milestone in efforts to combat cervical cancer.
“By prioritizing preventive measures and expanding access to life-saving vaccines, we are taking proactive steps to protect the health and well-being of our women and girls, ensuring a healthier future for generations to come,” he said.
Increased Patronage of Federal Tertiary Hospitals
Pate also noted that there has been a significant increase in patient attendance at federal tertiary hospitals, a testament to the improved quality of care and confidence in the healthcare system.
He promised that through targeted investments in infrastructure, technology, and human capital, the Federal Government will enhance the capacity of the institutions to deliver specialized medical services and handle complex health conditions, ensuring that every Nigerian has access to world-class healthcare when needed.
To improve tertiary healthcare services, Pate announced that 12 tertiary hospitals/centers have been earmarked for infrastructure development, including the establishment of oncology centers, radiology centers, and diagnostics facilities: “These investments will enhance our capacity to provide specialized care and meet the evolving healthcare needs of our people.”
On the issue of manpower, the Minister said the Ministry, in collaboration with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, has taken proactive steps to address the shortage of healthcare professionals.
“By increasing the number of medical students admitted to medical schools, we are boosting the healthcare workforce and laying the groundwork for a healthier future.”
He also said a comprehensive program to digitize Nigeria’s healthcare system, streamlining processes, enhancing efficiency, and improving patient outcomes will be unveiled in the next two weeks.
Tackling High Prices of Drugs
Even then, the Minister did not fail to address the issue of rising cost of drugs and other pharmaceutical products. He assured that the Tinubu administration is taking decisive action to address this issue. According to him, one of the initial steps will be the issuance of executive order to curb escalating drug prices in the short term. However, he said the mid to long-term goal involved the domestication of imported drugs within the next three years, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade.
He also revealed that in a strategic move to fortify the pharmaceutical infrastructure across the nation, the Federal Government has initiated the construction of pharmaceutical-grade warehouses in 21 states in collaboration with Drug Management Agencies.
Safety of Food, Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics
He added that two additional warehouses at the federal level are also underway, complemented by the installation of the Warehousing Management Information System (WMIS) – M Supply, in the 21 pharma-grade warehouses. “This visionary project, commenced in October 2023, is slated for completion in March 2024, with a scheduled commissioning in April 2024,” said Pate.
He added that the implementation of WMIS is expected to significantly enhance accountability and transparency, ensuring the potency of public health medicines and other health commodities. This infrastructure development aligns with our commitment to improving health outcomes for citizens nationwide.
Yet, the Ministry said to advance healthcare data management, essential medicines and narcotics utilization across the three levels of healthcare have been successfully onboarded onto the National Health Logistics Management Information System (NHLMIS) platform. “This decisive step not only strengthens our international image by enhancing medicines reporting but also establishes a robust framework for monitoring and optimizing the supply chain.”
Also, the Minister told journalists that the Federal Government has led the development of the maiden National Policy on Cosmetics Safety in Nigeria. This, he said, was to guide the production and safe use of cosmetics in the country.
In the same vein, Pate noted that the development of two Unified Food Safety Training Manuals with focusing on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles as well as the requirements for Good Hygiene and Manufacturing Practices (GHP/GMP) along the food supply chain, underscores the commitment of Federal Government to promoting food safety and hygiene practices across the nation: “These initiatives collectively signify our dedication to advancing both pharmaceutical and food safety standards, ultimately contributing to the overall well-being of our citizens.”
Industrialisation
He added that strategic partnerships and funding initiatives, the Federal Government is unlocking the full potential of the healthcare sector for industrialisation.
“I am pleased to announce that the Ministry has secured a $1 billion pledge from Afriexim bank, alongside commitments from foreign partners, to support our endeavors in this regard,” he informed.
“As I conclude, let me reaffirm the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to advancing the health and well-being of every Nigerian. While we celebrate these achievements, we recognize that our work is far from over. We remain steadfast in our resolve to build a healthier, more resilient nation, and we will continue to collaborate with stakeholders at all levels to achieve our shared vision of a thriving healthcare system for all,” Pate concluded.